The intrigue of who could win the Rolex Sydney Hobart overall
by Danielle McKay, RSHYR Media 28 Dec 2013 08:11 GMT
28 December 2013
While frontrunners are settling in for a white-knuckled final 100 nautical miles, not far behind is an intriguing tussle for the overall IRC win that hinges on a few degree of the compass.
Wild Oats XI is strong at the front of the pack and at present is on track to equal the race record of seven line honours wins, set by the yacht with two names, Kurrewa IV and Morna.
The defending champion holds almost a 40 nautical mile lead over Perpetual LOYAL as they finally throttle-down with speeds in excess of 20 knots on a racecourse riddled with gale force warnings.
Just four nautical miles behind in third place is Ragamuffin 100, which has held an iron-grip on LOYAL's coattails since gaining major ground overnight.
But it's the fight for the Tattersall's Cup in the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's famous race that matters most to the salty-sailing-types, and keeps skippers coming back even after the beating they'll endure in the next 24-hours.
Just who will get their mitts on the coveted silverware in this, the 69th edition of the race, remains anyone's guess.
The 50 and 60-foot yachts including Ichi Ban, Patrice and Chutzpah are major contenders, along with the Beneteaus including 2013 Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race winner Brannew and the new boat owning brothers on Black Sheep, but even the stalwarts of the fleet including Blue Water Pointscore leader, Wild Rose, are in with a chance.
The 28-year-old yacht skippered by Roger Hickman, competing in his 37th Sydney Hobart, is currently sitting atop the IRC leaderboard, but he's been there before, even last year, and it's a precarious pedestal, as he has already found out numerous times.
Wild Rose navigator Jennifer Wells said the Farr 43's crew was soaking up the sun and enjoying some rare shorts and t-shirt sailing in Bass Strait.
But they're under no illusion that some true Sydney Hobart weather is in store and they'll have their work cut out to remain on top.
"We're hoping we'll be a little bit further south so we don't get the full brunt of that, but that's going to depend on how we go with the current," she said.
"Some of the crew are relaxing on deck and some are sleeping, because when that front does hit, we're going to need fresh crew and we're trying to rest up the helmsmen as much as we can to deal with that front."
For days now navigators have been sweating over the exact direction of the front and when it will hit.
Ichi Ban navigator Will Oxley says it's the make or break for Matt Allan's Carkeek 60-footer in its debut ocean race.
"Our success in the race looks like it will depend on how much south is in the change," he explained.
"If it's more west then the fleet behind will just reach into Tasman (Island) and that won't be so good for us.
"If it's more south-west well then that will help us out with the chasing pack."
Multiple liner honours and handicap winning navigator Adrienne Cahalan spent hours yesterday plotting where to best position the Reichel/Pugh 55 Wedgetail for today's changing conditions.
"Today it is about planning our approach to Tasman Island and setting ourselves up to make the most of the strong northerlies before being in a good position to pick up the westerlies when the front arrives this evening,'' she said.
"It's great sailing out here - 18 knots of wind under spinnaker and clear skies - but we know the fleet is in for a beating tonight!"
Gale force wind warnings remain in place for large areas of the racecourse as the northerlies strengthen this afternoon, before making a dramatic swing to the west possibly around 2300 AEDT tonight – after the super maxis are tucked up safely in Hobart.
Getting Ready for the Big Bash (by Jim Gale, RSHYR Media)
Brindabella skipper Jim Cooney reports that the veteran maxi enjoyed a very successful second night at sea and is reveling under spinnaker in a brisk breeze this morning, but already his thoughts are turning to the big change forecast for later this evening.
A big west-southwest front is expected to move through Bass Strait bringing gale force winds and big seas.
While the race front-runners crawled in frustratingly light winds further south overnight there was breeze in the top half of Bass Strait and Brindabella made the most of it.
"We caught up 30 miles on the leaders," Cooney said. "It's nice to get back in touch."
At nine o'clock this morning he reported that Brindabella was reaching 15-knot speeds under spinnaker in 20 knots of wind and having a great time, with the intension of laying close to the Tasmanian coast to minimise the distance they have to go to Hobart when the change comes through.
They hope they will not be too far from Tasman Island when the front hits. Tasmania might afford them some shelter for a time, but when they turn into Storm Bay it will be full on.
"It will be a tough bash in the early part of it, but once we free up we will have to slow the old girl down," Cooney said.
"We have done most of the things we need to do to prepare for the change. We have shifted the sails to the right places. The storm sail, the number five jib and the small sails are on the top of the pile. Depending on the severity of it we will start with the number five and see if we need to change. We'll need to have everything prepared in the daylight hours."
The good news in all this for Brindabella is that, even after midnight, there will be breeze in the Derwent River tonight as she does the final leg to Hobart.
"It will be strong all the way to the finish line," Cooney said.
So far though the 2013 Rolex Sydney Hobart has been very benign. Only three of the 94 boats that left the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's marina have had to retire, so the crews will at least be fresh and rested when the front does come.
"I haven't slept for such a long time in a race," Cooney marvels. "I got five or six hours off the New South Wales coast. And we're dry!
"By tomorrow though we'll be saying the Hobart always throws something at you."
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